Chapter 176

With the cameras arranged, I was immediately escorted by Nathan to the other side of the room where Julian was teaching Elva how to hide a card up her sleeve. Behind me, the King and Queen were escorted by guards out of the room.

I crossed my arms as I peered down at Julian. He smiled sheepishly up at me.

“Are you angrier with me for what’s about to happen with the cameras, or that I was teaching Elva how to cheat at cards?” he asked.

“Both,” I said.

“Fair.”

“Mommy, look!” Elva lifted her sleeves and ten cards came spilling out.

Julian laughed. “She’s an enthusiastic learner.”

I shook my head, even as I knelt down beside them. “Elva, you shouldn’t learn things from Julian.”

“But Jul-an is fun!” she said.

I slide a glance his way.

He smirks. “More fun than Nicholas?” His eyes are alight. He is clearly expecting an answer of a positive sort.

“No!” Elva said. “Nick-lass is best.”

“Elva,” I chided softly.

“What?” she asked.

I worried Julian might be angry, but he just laughs. Still, behind it, somewhere in his gaze, I see a dash of hurt. He doesn’t mention it so neither do I, not wanting to embarrass him.

“Why don’t we pick up the mess we made, hm?” I asked Elva, who immediately agreed and started collecting the cards.

With her distracted, I turned toward Julian. He was already looking at me.

“You going to be okay with this?” I asked him.

He seemed surprised. “Shouldn’t I be asking you that?”

I shrug a little. “It seems unfair to both of us.” I glanced at Elva as she reached for a card hidden under the couch. “All of us,” I amended.

“I regret any hurt or confusion this causes Elva,” Julian said. “But pretending to be fond of you is no great challenge, Piper.”

I brought my attention back to Julian. He acted like this sometimes, said or did things that made me wonder if the fondness he felt for me carved deeper than friendship. He always seemed to pull away before I could get too close to the truth.

Or maybe it was me who pulled away, afraid of what I would find if I looked too closely. Julian was as off-limits as Nicholas was. More so, being Nicholas’s brother.

I was fond of him, cared for him deeply, but the depths of my feelings for Julian could never match what I felt for Nicholas.

For now, though, I would have to pretend.

“Will you be able to do this?” Julian asked me. Leaning closer, he let his voice drop low.

“Yes,” I said. “For the good of the kingdom.” For Nicholas’s sake.

The producers finished setting up, and then waved for us to begin. We sat with Elva for a while, playing cards. Julian taught her a trick while I fondly watched. That part wasn’t hard. I wasn’t playing pretend.

But then, with Elva distracted with her cards, Julian and I stepped off to the side. We sat together on a nearby couch, legs touching from hip to knee. Julian slipped his arm around my waist.

Julian nuzzled at my cheek. In my ear, he whispered, “You are too tense. You look like you are about to slap me at any moment.”

I knew that, I did. But I had no idea how to calm down.

“Deep breaths,” Julian guided me. “Let your shoulders relax. I’m not going to hurt you.”

“I know that,” I whispered, because it felt important for him to know.

He traced his hand up the length of my arm to my shoulder, then jumped to cradle by cheek. He turned my face toward him. It took everything I had not to pull away.

His eyes were a little sad as he took me in.

“Piper,” he said. Softer, he added, “Pretend I’m him.”

There was no question who him meant.

Nicholas.

With Nicholas, I wouldn’t be playing pretend.

I looked at Julian. The curves and planes of his face weren’t all that different from Nicholas’s. If I squinted…

Better yet, if I closed my eyes entirely.

Julian’s fingers were softer than Nicholas’s, but when he slipped them back through my hair, it was harder to tell.

Julian traced the tip of his nose along my cheekbone. It was a gentle touch, intimate.

I tried to imagine Nicholas doing it. But I couldn’t quite manage.

I leaned back.

The producer said, “Hold it. Stop filming.”

I opened eyes.

“Let’s take a break for a bit,” the producer said.

Behind us, Elva was dozing on the chair the King had been using. I watched her for a while. Anything to keep from looking at Julian and seeing the disappointment in his eyes.

“You can’t even pretend?” he asked softly. “I know you like Nicholas, but surely you can see that I’m not all that bad.”

“I know you aren’t,” I said. “But…”

“But?” Julian prompted, when I struggled to find the words.

“I can’t be untrue to my own heart. I don’t want to lead you on.”

Julian tilted his head minutely. Then he laughed so suddenly that I startled.

“None of this is real, Piper. I know that. I’m not going to suddenly think you are in love with me.”

“I know, but…” It did seem foolish, when he put it like that.

“Think of it like a game,” Julian said. “Think of yourself as an actress and we’re only doing all this for some great movie.”

“Okay,” I said. “I can try to do that.”

“Good.” His smile softened.

I glanced at Elva again. She seemed to be sleeping soundly. That, at least, was a blessing. I didn’t want her to see what I was about to do. The poor girl would have a hard enough time when Nicholas would have to let us go. I didn’t want her to be even more confused.

Julian nodded to the producer, and the producer signaled to the cameraman, who began to film again.

Julian cupped my face with both hands. The way he looked at me… so soft… so gentle… Almost like he was really in love.

I knew it was pretend, but the intensity of it still stole my breath away.

Julian was an amazing actor. It seemed so real.

He leaned in closer. He brushed the pad of his thumb across my bottom lip.

He was going to kiss me. This was a signal. It had to happen.

I only wanted to kiss Nicholas, but that wasn’t reality. Nicholas would leave me soon. The only thing I could do was make sure he would remain safe here. If my influence could help him…

I closed my eyes.

Julian’s lips pressed onto mine. His kiss was soft, not demanding at all. He just stayed pressed against me, tender, almost caressing his lips against mine.

His tongue came next, slowly. I wanted to lock my jaw, clamp my teeth, to keep his tongue away. But I had to let him in. For the game we were playing, the movie we were acting…

To keep Nicholas safe…

I parted my teeth, and Julian slipped his tongue into my mouth.

Julian was a good kisser, likely from an immense amount of practice. Maybe if I hadn’t known Nicholas, I would have been swept away in him. As it was, I could only think of the man I truly wanted…

“Piper?”

My eyes shot open. I pressed against Julian, shoving him away.

Standing in the doorway, eyes wide with shock, stood Nicholas.

He looked at me in disbelief… in hurt?

Then his gaze shifted to Julian, and he growled.